Apparatus for ram forming monolithic plastic articles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for ram forming monolithic plastic articles, which produces articles, such as clay pipe and fittings, without stress lines and without knit or bond lines. The apparatus includes a mold having an elongate cavity having an inside surface configuration corresponding to an outside surface of the article to be formed therein. Bore forming mandrels or rams are movable into the elongate cavity for forcing a compression formed mass of plastic clay to flow around the mandrels and fill the cavity and form the article with bores therein, the mandrels being removable from the cavity and the mold opened for removal of the article.

United States Patent Siegfried et al. 1451 July 18, 1972 s41 APPARATUSFOR RAM FORMING 3,465,075 9/1969 Siegfreid ..25/39 x MONOLITHIC PLASTICARTICLES 3,558,758 1/1971 Wendt et a1. ..264/l08 3,329,758 7/1967Saurwein ..264/l 19 X [72] Inventors: Edward C. Siegfried; Conner J.Harwell, 3,353,214 11/1967 Schulze ..25/3OM X both of Meridian, Miss;Shields L. 3,499,067 3/1970 Rogers ..25/3 .I X Murphy, deceased, late ofMeridan, Miss. 3,487,l40 12/1969 Laux ..25/30 R X by Ransdell H. Murphyand Carolyn M. hell's Primary ExaminerJ. Spencer Overholser 73 A 2 m k"In Assistant Examiner-Ben D. Tobor 1 sslsnee puny, z grh hauling ComAttorney-FishburmGold and Litman [22] Filed: March 23, 1970 [57]ABSTRACT pp 1 A paratus for ram formin monolithic plastic articles,which d l h 1 d 11 h pro uces attic es, suc as c ay pipe an mngs, witout stress Rented Appumflo" Data lines and without knit or bond lines.The apparatus includes a 2 Division f Sen 721,306, April 15, 1963, Patmold having an elongate cavity having an inside surface con- 35 57 29 1figuration corresponding to an outside surface of the article to beformed therein. Bore forming mandrels or rams are mova- 152 vs. c1..425/457, 425/412, 425/195 into the elvhsate y for forcing acompression formed 51 1m. (:1 .3281: 21/50 mass of Plastic y to flowaround the mahdrels and fill the 58 Field of Search ..25/3o R, 39, 31,35, 37, 120; cavity and form the article with bores lhmim the mandrels425/195, 447, 412, 419, 423,457 being removable from the cavity and themold opened for removal of the article.

6 [5 Rekrences Cmd 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS3,495,308 2/1970 Schulze ..25/30 M Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,687

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS s1 EGFREI 0,

BY CONN ER HARWE LL 9w SHIELDS MURPHY Wan, wvflah ATTORNEYS PatentedJuly 18, 1972 3,677,687

4 Sheets-Sheet I ullllmw QJM -I; E LIE; 4

INVENTORS EDWARD c. SIEGFREID,

BYCONNER HARWELLFM SHIELDS MURPHY MW, MQ/ K ATTORNEYS Patented July 18,1972 4 Sheets-Sheet APPARATUS FOR RAM FORMING MONOLITHIC PLASTICARTICLES This application is a division of our copending application,Ser. No. 721,306, filed Apr. 15, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,557,290,issued Jan. 19, 197 l and entitled Method for Ram Forming MonolithicPlastic Articles, and relates to an apparatus for ram forming monolithicplastic articles having bores therein and particularly to apparatus forram forming clay pipe and fittings such as tees and wyes and the like.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide apparatusfor ram forcing of flow of material in a mold to form monolithic plasticarticles; to provide such apparatus wherein the articles have bores suchas clay pipe and fittings; to provide such apparatus which is simple tooperate in high volume production and which results in high qualityaccurate pipe and fittings at low cost; and to provide apparatus havingprecise stroke limits for each of the plurality of material working ramswhereby the finished article is an accurate high quality item.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in comection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain embodiments of this invention.

H6. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus for ram forming monolithic clayfittings embodying features of the present in vention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the apparatus taken online 2-2, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the apparatus taken online 33, FIG. 2 showing movable parts in their initial positions.

H6. 4 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing a moldcavity closing member at the limit of its inward stroke.

HO. 5 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing a boreforming mandrel at the limit of its inward stroke and the mold cavityclosing member held at a selected point in the mold cavity.

F IG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the ramformed fitting in the mold.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a clay fitting formed in the apparatusprepared for trimming.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing details of socket fonnerand branch socket former.

REFERRING MORE lN DETAIL TO THE DRAWINGS position by suitable fasteningdevices, such as a plurality of 0 anchor bolts 5 anchored in the flooror foundation and engaged with lower flanges 6 of the members 3 and 4.An upper deck member 7 is suitably secured to upper flanges 8 of thestructural members 3 and 4, as by welding. The elongate structuralmembers 3 and 4 are connected together by suitable transverse members,such as walls or plates 9, which in the illustrated structure are placedat each end of the base 2 and at least one wall or plate 9 is placedintermediate the ends thereof thereby forming a rigid base structureadapted to resist vertical, longitudinal, and lateral forces developedduring ram forming operations.

A mold 10 is mounted on an upper surface of the deck 7 and has aninterior surface ll defining a cavity therein having a configurationgenerally corresponding to the outside configuration of the finishedplastic article, such as clay pipe and fittings. When the article hasoutwardly extending projections, such as a tee or wye branch 12 of aclay pipe fitting 13, it is necessary that the mold 10 be a split moldhaving a lower section 14 and an upper section 15. It is preferable thatmating surfaces 16 and 17 of the lower and upper sections 14 and 15respectively be machined surfaces and have such contact as to form aseal. Also suitable mating members are provided to assure precisealignment. in the illustrated structure the mating portions haveinter-engaging portions, such as a groove 18 in the mating surface 16and a rib 19 extending outwardly from the mating surface 17 and having ashape corresponding to the groove 18 thereby precisely aligiing the moldsections l4 and 15 and preventing material being forced between themating surfaces 16 and 17 and any resulting stress lines in the finishedarticle.

While the apparatus is adapted for ram forming monolithic plasticarticles of various shapes, the apparatus 1 as illustrated isparticularly adapted for ram forming pipe and pipe fittings, such as theclay pipe fitting 13. Therefore in the illustrated structure the moldinterior surface 11 defines an elongate cylindrical cavity 20 which hasan enlarged bell portion 21 at a bell end 22 of the mold 10 with theinterior surface of the enlarged bell portion 21 corresponding to anexterior surface of a bell portion 23 of the clay fitting 13. The mold10 includes a branch or arm 24 having an elongate cylindrical moldbranch cavity 25 therein defined by an interior surface 26. The branchcavity 25 has one end communicating with the cavity 20 defined by theinterior surface 1 l and a bell end 27 in the form of an enlargedportion 28 having an interior shape corresponding to an outside surfaceof a bell portion 29 of the tee or wye branch 12.

A mold cavity closing member 30 is extendible into a spigot end 31 ofthe mold l0 and movable longitudinally within the cavity 20 defined bythe interior surface I l. The mold cavity closing member 30 isillustrated as an elongate cylindrical member of uniform cross sectionand having a side wall 32 with an exterior diameter effecting a tightfit with the surface 11 of the mold cavity 20 therefore the side wall 32slidingly and sealingly engages the interior surface 11. It is thereforepreferable that the interior surface 11 and the mold cavity closingmember side wall 32 each be machined to provide the tight fit therebypreventing the clay from flowing between the interior surface 1 l andthe side wall 32.

An operating member or extensible member 33 is operatively connectedwith the mold cavity closing member 30 to move same longitudinallywithin the cavity 20. The extensible member 33 consists of a cylinder 34suitably secured upon the deck 7, as by brackets 35 of the cylinder 34being welded thereto. A piston is reciprocable in the cylinder 34 andhas a piston rod 37 that extends through a forward end 38 of thecylinder 34 with the free end 39 of the piston rod 37 being operativelyconnected to the mold cavity closing member 30. In the illustratedstructure, withdrawing the piston rod 37 into the cylinder 34 moves themold cavity closing member 30 out of the spigot end 31 of the mold l0and extending the piston rod 37 extends the mold cavity closing member30 into the mold cavity 20 defined by the interior surface 1 1.

Suitable fluid, such as hydraulic fluid, under pressure is applied tothe forward end 38 and a rear end 40 of the cylinder 34 through suitableflexible hoses or tubes 41 and 42 respectively under control of a lever43 which is operatively connected to a suitable control valve (notshown) positioned in a control panel 45 whereby when fluid pressure isintroduced into the forward end 38 of the cylinder 34 the piston rod 37is withdrawn into the cylinder 34 to withdraw the mold cavity closingmember 30 from the cavity 20 of the mold l0 and when fluid pressure isintroduced into the rear end 40 of the cylinder 34 the piston rod 37 isextended outwardly from the cylinder 34 thereby moving the mold cavityclosing member 30 longitudinally into the mold cavity 20 defined by theinterior surface 11.

A closure member 46 is adapted to close the bell end 22 of the mold l0and has an integral socket former 47 extending outwardly from a moldengaging face 48. The socket former 47 extends longitudinally into thebell portion 21 and has an edge or rim 49 radially inwardly spaced fromthe surface of the bell portion 21 of the mold cavity 20 a distancecorresponding to the thickness of a wall 50 of the clay pipe bellportion 23 and has an exterior surface corresponding to the interiorsurface of the clay pipe bell portion 23.

The closure member 46 and the socket former 47 may be manually movedinto position at the bell end 22, however, it is preferable thatsuitable power means, such as a pair of extensible members 51 and 52, beoperatively connected to the closure member 46 to move the socket former47 into and out of the enlarged bell portion 21. The extensible members51 and 52 each consist of a cylinder 53 and 54 respectively which issuitably mounted on the deck 7, as by brackets 55 and 56. Pistons arereciprocable in the cylinders 53 and 54 respectively and each havepiston rods 59 and 60 respectively that extend through forward ends 61and 62 of the cylinders 53 and 54 respectively with free ends 63 and 64of the piston rods 59 and 60 being operatively connected to the closuremember 46. In the illustrated structure, simultaneously extending thepiston rods 59 and 60 outwardly from the respective cylinders 53 and 54moves the closure member 46 to close the bell end 22 of the mold andmoves the socket former 47 into the enlarged bell portion 21 andwithdrawing the piston rods 59 and 60 into the cylinders 53 and 54respectively moves the closure members 46 away from the bell end 22.

Suitable fluid such as hydraulic fluid, under pressure is applied to theforward ends 61 and 62 and rear ends 65 and 66 of the cylinders 53 and54 through suitable flexible hoses or tubes 67 and 68 respectively undercontrol of a lever 69 which is operatively connected to a suitablecontrol valve positioned in the control panel 45 whereby when fluidpressure is introduced into the rear ends 65 and 66 of the cylinders 53and 54 through the hoses 68, the piston rods 59 and 60 aresimultaneously extended outwardly from the respective cylinders 53 and54 to move the closure member 46 and socket former 47 to close the bellend 22 of the mold 10 and when fluid under pressure is introduced intothe forward ends 61 and 62 of the cylinders 53 and 54 through the hoses67 the closure member 46 and socket former 47 are wifl'idrawn from thebell end 22.

A bore forming mandrel 7! is movable through a passageway 72 through theclosure member 46 and socket former 47. The bore forming mandrel 71 isan elongate cylindrical member having an exterior diameter correspondingto the internal diameter of a body portion 73 of the clay fitting [3. Aforward face 74 of the bore forming mandrel 71 is pointed forpenetrating and moving through the clay and is illustrated as having agenerally conical shape. The bore forming mandrel 71 is movablelongitudinally within the mold cavity defined by the interior surface 11and is movable independently of the closure member 46 and socket former47.

A suitable operating member or extensible member 75 is operativelyconnected to the bore forming mandrel 71 to extend and retract same. Theextensible member 75 consists of a cylinder 76 suitably supported on thedeck 7, as by cylinder brackets 77 being welded to the deck 7, and ispreferably positioned between the cylinders 53 and 54. A piston isreciprocable in the cylinder 76 and has a piston rod 79 that extendsthrough a forward end 80 of the cylinder 76 with the free end 81 of thepiston rod 79 being operatively connected to the bore forming mandrel71. In the illustrated structure, extend ing the piston rod 79 outwardlyfrom the forward end 80 of the cylinder 76 moves the bore formingmandrel 71 longitudinally within the cavity 20 defined by the interiorsurface 11 and withdrawing the piston rod 79 into the cylinder 76removes the bore forming mandrel 71 from the bell end 22 of the mold l0.

Suitable fluid, such as hydraulic fluid, under pressure is applied tothe forward end 80 and a rear end 82 of the cylinder 76 through suitablehoses or tubes 83 and 84 under control of a lever 85 which isoperatively connected to a suitable control valve positioned in thecontrol panel 45 whereby when fluid pressure is introduced into the rearend of the cylinder 76 through the hose 83, the piston rod 79 isextended outwardly from the forward end of the cylinder 76 to move thebore forming mandrel 71 into and through the cavity 20 defined by theinterior surface 11 and when fluid pressure is introduced into theforward end 80 of the cylinder 76 through the hose 84 the piston rod 79is withdrawn into the cylinder 76 to withdraw the bore forming mandrel71 from the cavity 20 of the mold 10.

A branch bore forming member 87 is movable into the branch or arm 24 ofthe mold l0 and is illustrated as an elongate cylindrical member havingan exterior diameter corresponding to an internal diameter of a bodyportion 88 of the tee or wye branch 12. An enlarged portion intermediatethe ends of the branch bore forming member 87 is shaped to form a branchsocket former 89 and is positioned within the enlarged portion 28 of thebranch 24 and has an exterior surface radially inwardly spaced from thesurface defining the en larged portion 28. The exterior surface of thebranch socket former 89 corresponds to the interior surface of the bellportion 29 of the tee or wye bramch 12. A flange 90 extends outwardlyfrom the branch socket former 89 and is positioned to close the bell end27 of the branch or arm 24 of the mold 10.

in the illustrated structure, the flange 90 and the branch socket former89 are integral with the branch bore forming member 87 therebypositioning one end 91 thereof within the mold cavity 20 defined by theinterior surface 11. The face at one end 91 of the branch bore formingmember 87 is arcuate and is radially spaced outwardly from the exteriorsurface of the bore forming mandrel 71 when same is in the cavity 20defined by the interior surface 11.

The branch bore forming member 87 may be manually moved into positionwithin the branch or arm 24 and suitably secured to the mold 10,however, it is preferable that a suitable operating member or extensiblemember 92 be operatively connected to the branch bore forming member 87to position same within the mold branch or arm 24 and to remove sametherefrom. The extensible member 92 consists of a cylinder 93 suitablysupported on the deck 7, as by brackets 94 of the cylinder 93 beingwelded thereto. A piston is reciprocable in the cyiinder 93 and has apiston rod 96 that extends through a forward end 97 of the cylinder 93with a forward end 98 of the piston rod 96 being operatively connectedto the branch bore forming member 87. ln the illustrated structure,extending the piston rod 96 outwardly from the forward end 97 of thecylinder 93 moves the branch bore forming member 87 into position withinthe mold branch or arm 24 and withdrawing the piston rod 96 into thecylinder 93 removes the branch bore forming member 87 from the branch orarm 24.

Suitable fluid, such as hydraulic fluid, under pressure is ap plied tothe forward end 97 and a rear end 99 of the cylinder 93 through suitablehoses or tubes 100 and 101 respectively under control of a lever 102which is operatively connected to a suitable control valve positioned inthe control panel 45 whereby when fluid pressure is introduced into therear end 99 of the cylinder 93 through the hose 101 the piston rod 96 isextended outwardly from the forward end 97 of the cylinder 93 to movethe branch bore forming member 87 and the flange 90 into engagement withand closing the bell end 27 of the mold branch or arm 24 and when fluidpressure is introduced into the forward end 97 of the cylinder 93through the hose 100 the piston rod 96 is withdrawn into the cylinder 93to remove the branch bore forming member 87 from the mold branch or arm24.

An abutment member 104 is in a fixed position above the base 2 and isadapted to resist forces exerted by members holding the upper moldsection 15 if firm engagement with the lower mold section 14. Suitablecolumns 105 extend upwardly from the base 2 and support the abutmentmember 104 and the columns 105 are suitably braced, as by bracingmembers 106, to resist longitudinal and lateral forces exerted on themold 10 by the mold cavity closing member 30 and the bore formingmandrel 71.

Suitable linkage, such as opposed scissor linkages 107 are operativelyconnected to the abutment member 104 and to the upper mold section 15 tohold same in engagement with the lower mold section 14 and to move samevertically away from the lower mold section 14.

In the illustrated structure, the scissor linkages 107 each include anupper link 108 having an upper end 109 pivotally connected to theabutment member 104 and the lower end 1 pivotally connected to asuitable power operated extensible member 111 and a lower link 112having a lower end 113 pivotally connected to the upper mold section andthe upper end 114 pivotally connected to the extensible member 1 1 1. Itis preferable that the scissor linkages 107 be in laterally spaced pairswith the pairs being longitudinally spaced along the mold 10.

The extensible members 111 are mounted in axially aligned pairs and inthe illustrated structure, one end of each cylinder is suitablypivotally connected to a bracket 115 mounted on the respective column105, as by a suitable pin 116 extending through the respective bracket115. Each of the extensible members 111 consists of a cylinder 117having a piston reciprocable dierein and a piston rod 118 that extendsoutwardly from a forward end 1 19 of the cylinder 1 17 with a forwardend 120 of the piston rod 118 being pivotally connected to the upper andlower links 108 and 112. in the illustrated structure, simultaneouslywithdrawing each of the pair of aligned piston rods 118 into thecylinders 117 raises the upper mold section 15 and extending the pistonrods 118 outwardly from the cylinders 117 lowers the upper mold section15 into engagement with the lower mold section 14 whereby the moldsections 14 and 15 cooperate with the mold cavity closing member 30 andthe bore forming mandrel 71 to maintain the clay in compression duringram forming of the clay within the mold l0.

Suitable fluid, such as hydraulic fluid, under pressure is applied tothe forward end 119 and a rear end 121 of each of the respectivecylinders 117 through suitable hoses or tubes 122 and 123 respectivelyunder control of a lever 124 which is operatively connected to asuitable control valve positioned in the control panel 45 whereby whenfluid pressure is introduced into the rear end 121 of each of thecylinders 117 through the hoses 123 the piston rods 118 are extendedoutwardly from the forward ends 119 of the cylinders 117 to lower theupper mold section 15 into interlocking engagement with the lower moldsection 14 and when fluid pressure is introduced into the forward end119 of each of the cylinders 117 through hoses 122 the piston rods 1 18are withdrawn into the cylinders 117 to raise the upper mold section 15upwardly away from the lower mold section 14.

In the ram forming of the clay pipe and fittings an elongate compressionformed clay cylinder 125 is placed in the mold cavity defined by theinterior surface 11 and the upper mold section 15 is secured to thelower mold section 14 by operation of the extensible members 111. Theclosure member 46 and the socket former 47 are positioned in the bellend 22 of the mold 10 by simultaneous operation of the extensiblemembers 51 and 52 and the branch bore forming member 87 is positionedwithin the bell end 27 and within the branch 24 by operation of theextensible member 92. The mold cavity closing member is then moved intothe mold cavity 20 defined by the interior surface 1 1 until a moldcavity closing member face 126 engages one end 127 of the clay cylinder125 and moves the cylinder 125 toward the closure member 46 and thesocket former 47 by operation of the eve tensible member 33. The otherend 128 of the clay cylinder 125 is thereby forced to flow around thesocket former 47 and into the enlarged bell portion 21 and anintermediate portion of the clay cylinder 125 is forced to flow into themold branch 24 and into the enlarged portion 28 therein and around thebranch bore forming member body portion 88 and socket former 89 therebyforming the branch 12 and the bells 23 and 29. The bore forming mandrel71 is then extended through the passageway 72 and into the other end 128of the clay cylinder 125 through operation of the extensible member 75with a force sufl'icient to penetrate the clay cylinder and overcome theforce exerted by the mold cavity closing member 30 thereby forcing sameto move outwardly from the mold cavity 20 defined by the interiorsurface 11. The outwardly movement of the mold cavity closing member 30is stopped at a selected point within the mold cavity 20 by closing ashut-off valve in the hose 42 to the rear end 40 of the cylinder 34thereby holding the mold cavity closing member 30 in a selected positionwhile the bore forming mandrel 71 continues to move toward the face 126of the mold cavity closing member 30. At the end of the inward stroke ofthe bore forming mandrel 71 a portion 130 of the clay cylinder 125remains between the forward face 74 of the bore forming mandrel 71 andthe face 126 of the mold cavity closing member 30. The ram fonning ofthe clay pipe fitting 13 is thereby completed and pressure is relaxed onthe mold cavity closing member 30 and on the bore forming mandrel 71which are removed from the mold 10.

A shoulder 131 on the socket former 47 and a shoulder 132 on the branchsocket former 89 are each slightly spaced from the interior surface ofthe bell portion 21 of the mold 10 and from the interior surface of bellportion 28 of the mold branch or arm 24 respectively thereby defining anarrow passageway 133 which is enlarged into a small chamber 134. Thepassage 133 and the chamber 134 provide a space into which the clay isforced thereby insuring that the space within the bell portions 21 and28 are each completely filled and that the material therein is properlycompacted. The bell portions 23 and 29 are thereby formed of solidmaterial which is properly compacted and free from defects It is notedthat when the bore forming mandrel 71 and the branch bore forming member87 are removed, low pressure air in the nature of one to two pounds persquare inch above atmospheric pressure is introduced through suitablecheck valves 135 and 136 at the end of the bore forming mandrel 71 andthe branch bore forming member 87 res ectively thereby preventing avacuum being formed within a bore 137 formed by the bore forming mandrel71 and a bore 138 formed by the branch bore forming member 87 wherebycollapse of the bores 137 and 138 is prevented until the upper moldsection 15 is removed.

The clay pipe fitting 13 is removed from the mold 10 by activating theextensible members 111 to raise the upper mold section 15 and tiltingthe lower mold section 14 about a spigot end 139 of the mold 10 andinserting a suitable finishing mandrel (not shown) into the fitting 13.

A wall 140 is formed between the arcuate face 91 of the branch boreforming member 87 and the bore forming mandrel 71 which must then beremoved by cutting a bore or passageway therethrough having a diametercorresponding to the bore 138 in the tee or wye branch 12. A spigot end141 of the clay fitting 13 is fomied by cutting 011' the portion 130 ofclay formed between the face 126 of the mold cavity closing member 30and the forward face 74 of the bore forming mandrel 71. The materialformed in the passageway 13 and chamber 134 is also cut off to finishthe bell portions 23 and 29 respectively. The clay fitting 13 is thenfurther treated by glazing and firing in a conventional manner.

It is important to precisely position the bore forming mandrel 71 andthe branch bore forming member 87 within the mold 111 and securely holdsame while the mold cavity closing member 30 forces the clay of thecylinder 125 to flow therearound and fill the bell end 22 of the mold 10and the bell end 27 of the branch 24 It is important that the bell ends22 and 27 be filled simultaneously to avoid the formation of a slippageplane or imperfection in the fitting 13.

While apparatus has been illustrated and described for ram forming ofthe clay fitting 13, it is to be understood that the apparatus may bemodified to ram form double tees or wyes by addition of another moldbranch and branch bore forming member (not shown). Standard clay pipewith and without the bell portion 23 may also be ram formed in the mold10 by omitting the mold branch 24 or mold branches, the bell portion 21of the mold cavity 20 being omitted for plain end clay pipe.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention havebeen illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specificform or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for ram forming monolithic clay pipe having a boretherethrough comprising:

a. an elongate mold having an interior surface defining an elongatecavity therein;

b. anelongate bore forming mandrel extending into one end of and movablelongitudinally within said mold cavity, said bore forming mandrel beingspaced radially inwardly from said mold interior surface;

c. an enlarged bell cavity portion at said one end of said mold cavity;

d. a socket former mounted on said mold and closing said one end of saidmold cavity, said socket former having a surface spaced radiallyinwardly from said enlarged bell cavity portion and a face extendinginto said mold cavity thereby defining the bell portion of the pipe;

e. a passage way through said socket former, said passageway beingcoaxial with said mold cavity for permitting said bore forming mandrelto move therethrough and into said mold cavity; said pipe having abranch extending outwardly at an angle with the longitudinal angle ofsaid pipe, said branch having a bore therethrough communicating with thepipe bore and a bell portion;

g. an elongate mold branch having an interior surface defining anelongate cylindrical branch cavity therein, one end of said elongatecylindrical branch cavity communicating with said elongate cylindricalmold cavity;

h. an enlarged bell cavity portion at the other end of said mold branchcavity;

i. a branch socket former mounted on said mold branch and closing theother end of said mold branch cavity, said branch socket former having asurface spaced radially inwardly from said enlarged bell cavity portionof said branch cavity and extending into said branch cavity;

j. a branch bore forming member extending longitudinally through saidmold branch cavity, said bore forming member coaxial with and withinsaid mold branch cavity.

k. a tight fitting mold cavity closing member extending into the otherend of and movable longitudinally within said mold cavity, said moldcavity closing member having a surface slidingly engaging said moldinterior surface, said mold cavity closing member having a faceengageable with one end of an elongated cylinder of clay within saidmold cavity;

l. means operatively connected with said mandrel and said closing memberand said mold for effecting relative movement thereof in moving the clayin the cavity;

m. said socket former having a mold engaging flange for closing said oneend of said mold cavity;

n. said socket former having a shoulder adjacent said mold engagingflange, said socket former shoulder having a surface spaced radiallyinwardly from an interior surface of said mold bell cavity therebydefining a chamber of reduced size adjacent said mold bell cavity;

0. said branch socket former having a mold branch engaging flange forclosing said mold branch, and

p. said branch socket former having a shoulder adjacent said mold branchengaging flange, said branch socket former shoulder having a surfacespaced radially inwardly from an interior surface of said bell cavityportion of said mold branch thereby defining a cavity of reduced sizeadjacent said branch mold cavity.

2. An apparatus for ram forming monolithic clay pipe having a boretherethrough comprising:

a. an elongate mold having an interior surface defining an elongatecavity therein;

b. an elongate bore forming mandrel extending into one end of andmovable longitudinally within said mold cavity, said bore formingmandrel being spaced radially inwardly from said mold interior surface;

c. an enlarged bell cavity portion at said one end of said mold cavity;

cl. a socket former mounted on said mold and closing said one end ofsaid mold cavity, said socket former having a surface spaced radiallyinwardly from said enlarged bell cavity portion and a face extendinginto said mold cavity thereby defining the bell portion of the pipe;

e. a passageway through said socket fon'ner, said passageway beingcoaxial with said mold cavity for permitting said bore forming mandrelto move therethrough and into said mold cavity;

f. a tight fitting mold cavity closing member extending into the otherend of and movable longitudinally within said mold cavity, said moldcavity closing member having a surface slidingly engaging said moldinterior surface, said mold cavity closing member having a faceengageable with one end of an elongate cylinder of clay within said moldcavity;

g. means operatively connected with said mandrel and said closing memberand said mold for effecting relative movement thereof in moving the clayin the cavity;

h. said socket fom'ier having a mold engaging flange for closing saidone end of said mold cavity;

i. said socket former having a shoulder adjacent said mold engagingflange, said socket former shoulder having a surface spaced radiallyinwardly from an interior surface of said mold bell cavity therebydefining a chamber of reduced size adjacent said mold bell cavity.

3. The apparatus for ram forming a monolithic clay pipe as set forth inclaim 2 wherein said means operatively connected with said mandrel andsaid closing member for effecting relative movement with said moldincludes:

a. extensible means operatively connected to said mold cavity closingmember for moving same into and out of said mold cavity,

b. second extensible means operatively connected to said bore formingmandrel for moving same into and out of said mold cavity, and

c. valve means associated with said first named extensible meansforholding said mold cavity closing member face with a selected forceagainst a force exerted thereon by said bore forming mandrel movingthrough said clay cylinder toward said mold cavity closing member faceand pemiitting retractive movement of said mold cavity closing member inresponse to a greater force on the mandrel.

4. An apparatus for ram forming monolithic clay pipe fitting having abore therethrough comprising:

a. an elongate mold having an interior surface defining and elongatecavity therein, said mold having at least two sec tions, said sectionsbeing separable and having cooperating interengageable mating surfacesfor aligning said mold sections;

b. an elongate bore forming mandrel extending into one end of andmovable longitudinally within said mold cavity, said bore formingmandrel being spaced radially inwardly from said mold interior surface;

c. closing means mounted on said mold and closing said one end of saidmold cavity;

d. a passageway through said closing means, said passageway beingcoaxial with said mold cavity for permitting said bore forming mandrelto move therethrough and into said mold cavity;

e. said pipe having a branch extending outwardly at an angle with thelongitudinal angle of said pipe, said branch having a bore therethroughcommunicating with the pipe bore and the bell portion;

f. an elongate mold branch having an interior surface defining anelongate cylindrical branch cavity therein, one end of said elongatecylindrical branch cavity communicating with said elongate cylindricalmold cavity;

a branch closing means mounted on said mold branch and closing the otherend of said mold branch cavity;

a branch bore forming member extending longitudinally through said moldbranch cavity, said bore forming member coaxial with and within saidmold branch cavity, said pipe bore forming mandrel and said branch boreforming member being hollow;

a tight fitting mold cavity closing member extending into the other endof and movable longitudinally within said mold cavity, said mold cavityclosing member having a surface slidingly engaging said mold interiorsurface, said mold cavity closing member having a face engageable withone end of an elongate cylinder of clay within said mold cavity;

. means operatively connected to said tight fitting mold cavity closingmember to apply a force to move same toward said one end of the moldcavity to force the clay into engagement with the means closing said oneend of the mold cavity and said other end of the mold branch cavity andmaintain said force;

it. means operatively connected with said mandrel to move said tightfitting mold cavity closing member and said bore forming mandrel andsaid branch bore forming member being removable from said mold wherebythe clay fitting is removable from said mold sections;

m. a source of air under pressure communicating with the interior ofsaid pipe bore forming mandrel and branch bore forming member;

11. valve means for controlling flow of air into said mandrel and branchbore forming member to apply air pressure within bores formed by saidmandrel and said branch bore forming member during removal thereof fromsaid mold.

1. An apparatus for ram forming monolithic clay pipe having a boretherethrough comprising: a. an elongate mold having an interior surfacedefining an elongate cavity therein; b. an elongate bore forming mandrelextending into one end of and movable longitudinally within said moldcavity, said bore forming mandrel being spaced radially inwardly fromsaid mold interior surface; c. an enlarged bell cavity portion at saidone end of said mold cavity; d. a socket former mounted on said mold andclosing said one end of said mold cavity, said socket former having asurface spaced radially inwardly from said enlarged bell cavity portionand a face extending into said mold cavity thereby defining the bellportion of the pipe; e. a passage way through said socket former, saidpassageway being coaxial with said mold cavity for permitting said boreforming mandrel to move therethrough and into said mold cavity; f. saidpipe having a branch extending outwardly at an angle with thelongitudinal angle of said pipe, said branch having a bore therethroughcommunicating with the pipe bore and a bell portion; g. an elongate moldbranch having an interior surface defining an elongate cylindricalbranch cavity therein, one end of said elongate cylindrical branchcavity communicating with said elongate cylindrical mold cavity; h. anenlarged bell cavity portion at the other end of said mold branchcavity; i. a branch socket former mounted on said mold branch andclosing the other end of said mold branch cavity, said branch socketformer having a surface spaced radially inwardly from said enlarged bellcavity portion of said branch cavity and extending into said branchcavity; j. a branch bore forming member extending longitudinally throughsaid mold branch cavity, said bore forming member coaxial with andwithin said mold branch cavity. k. a tight fitting mold cavity closingmember extending into the other end of and movable longitudinally withinsaid mold cavity, said mold cavity closing member having a surfaceslidingly engaging said mold interior surface, said mold cavity closingmember having a face engageable with one end of an elongated cylinder ofclay within said mold cavity; l. means operatively connected with saidmandrel and said closing member and said mold for effecting relativemovement thereof in moving the clay in the cavity; m. said socket formerhaving a mold engaging flange for closing said one end of said moldcavity; n. said socket former having a shoulder adjacent said moldengaging flange, said socket former shoulder having a surface spacedradially inwardly from an interior surface of said mold bell cavitythereby defining a chamber of reduced size adjacent said mold bellcavity; o. said branch socket former having a mold branch engagingflange for closing said mold branch, and p. said branch socket formerhaving a shoulder adjacent said mold branch engaging flange, said branchsocket former shoulder having a surface spaced radially inwardly from aninterior surface of said bell cavity portion of said mold branch therebydefining a cavity of reduced size adjacent said branch mold cavity. 2.An apparatus for ram forming monolithic clay pipe having a boretherethrough comprising: a. an elongate mold having an interior surfacedefining an elongate cavity therein; b. an elongate bore forming mandrelextending into one end of and movable longitudinally within said moldcavity, said bore forming mandrel being spaced radially inwardly fromsaid mold interior surface; c. an enlarged bell cavity portion at saidone end of said mold cavity; d. a socket former mounted on said mold andclosing said one end of said mold cavity, said socket former having asurface spaced radially inwardly from said enlarged bell cavity portionand a face extending into said mold cavity thereby defining the bellportion of the pipe; e. a passageway through said socket former, saidpassageway being coaxial with said mold cavity for permitting said boreforming mandrel to move therethrough and into said mold cavity; f. atight fitting mold cavity closing member extending into the other end ofand movable longitudinally within said mold cavity, said mold cavityclosing member having a surface slidingly engaging said mold interiorsurface, said mold cavity closing member having a face engageable withone end of an elongate cylinder of clay within said mold cavity; g.means operatively connected with said mandrel and said closing memberand said mold for effecting relative movement thereof in moving the clayin the cavity; h. said socket former having a mold engaging flange forclosing said one end of said mold cavity; i. said socket former having ashoulder adjacent said mold engaging flange, said socket former shoulderhaving a surface spaced radially inwardly from an interior surface ofsaid mold bell cavity thereby defining a chamber of reduced sizeadjacent said mold bell cavity.
 3. The apparatus fOr ram forming amonolithic clay pipe as set forth in claim 2 wherein said meansoperatively connected with said mandrel and said closing member foreffecting relative movement with said mold includes: a. extensible meansoperatively connected to said mold cavity closing member for moving sameinto and out of said mold cavity, b. second extensible means operativelyconnected to said bore forming mandrel for moving same into and out ofsaid mold cavity, and c. valve means associated with said first namedextensible means forholding said mold cavity closing member face with aselected force against a force exerted thereon by said bore formingmandrel moving through said clay cylinder toward said mold cavityclosing member face and permitting retractive movement of said moldcavity closing member in response to a greater force on the mandrel. 4.An apparatus for ram forming monolithic clay pipe fitting having a boretherethrough comprising: a. an elongate mold having an interior surfacedefining and elongate cavity therein, said mold having at least twosections, said sections being separable and having cooperatinginterengageable mating surfaces for aligning said mold sections; b. anelongate bore forming mandrel extending into one end of and movablelongitudinally within said mold cavity, said bore forming mandrel beingspaced radially inwardly from said mold interior surface; c. closingmeans mounted on said mold and closing said one end of said mold cavity;d. a passageway through said closing means, said passageway beingcoaxial with said mold cavity for permitting said bore forming mandrelto move therethrough and into said mold cavity; e. said pipe having abranch extending outwardly at an angle with the longitudinal angle ofsaid pipe, said branch having a bore therethrough communicating with thepipe bore and the bell portion; f. an elongate mold branch having aninterior surface defining an elongate cylindrical branch cavity therein,one end of said elongate cylindrical branch cavity communicating withsaid elongate cylindrical mold cavity; g. a branch closing means mountedon said mold branch and closing the other end of said mold branchcavity; h. a branch bore forming member extending longitudinally throughsaid mold branch cavity, said bore forming member coaxial with andwithin said mold branch cavity, said pipe bore forming mandrel and saidbranch bore forming member being hollow; i. a tight fitting mold cavityclosing member extending into the other end of and movablelongitudinally within said mold cavity, said mold cavity closing memberhaving a surface slidingly engaging said mold interior surface, saidmold cavity closing member having a face engageable with one end of anelongate cylinder of clay within said mold cavity; j. means operativelyconnected to said tight fitting mold cavity closing member to apply aforce to move same toward said one end of the mold cavity to force theclay into engagement with the means closing said one end of the moldcavity and said other end of the mold branch cavity and maintain saidforce; k. means operatively connected with said mandrel to move sameinto the clay and longitudinally of the mold cavity with a force greaterthan the force applied to said tight fitting mold cavity closing memberto effect the movement thereof towards said other end of the mold cavityas the mandrel moves therein and maintain the clay compressed by saidforces; l. said tight fitting mold cavity closing member and said boreforming mandrel and said branch bore forming member being removable fromsaid mold whereby the clay fitting is removable from said mold sections;m. a source of air under pressure communicating with the interior ofsaid pipe bore forming mandrel and branch bore forming member; n. valvemeans for controlling flow of air into said mandrel and branch boreforming member to apply air pressure within bores formed by said mandreland said brancH bore forming member during removal thereof from saidmold.